By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
Osoyoos will no longer see the Husky-branded gas stations come springtime when they will both be rebranded under their new ownership: Otter Co-op. This leaves people with accumulated myHusky Rewards points facing a deadline before the points become useless.
Both Husky locations in Osoyoos, the Husky Car Truck Stop located on Highway 97 just north of Highway 3, and the Husky gas station on Main street, will be converted to Co-op branding.
In a statement to the Times Chronicle the CEO of Otter Co-op, Jack Nicholson said: “We’re excited to confirm that Co-op will be coming to Osoyoos this spring as we begin to rebrand our two Husky locations with new pumps, signage and interior décor while keeping on the existing team.”
The transition has had some people worried about the myHusky loyalty program and the points they have already acquired. The Times Chronicle understands that all Husky loyalty points will have to be used before the rebranding happens in April. Co-op’s website makes clear that Co-op points cannot be acquired or used until it is rebranded as a Co-op. They are separate loyalty programs and have no cross over.
When asked about the loyalty program, Nicholson commented: “Once rebranded, we’ll be accepting and selling Otter Co-op memberships, allowing us to share our profits to local members/owners in Osoyoos.”
Otter Co-op bought the two Husky locations – along with 23 others in B.C. – and took ownership of them on Sept. 13, 2022. It was just a matter of time that they would be rebranded as Co-op stated on its website that, “over the next 18 months the sites will be transitioned to the Co-op brand or one of Co-op’s independent brands supplied by Co-op.”
The Times Chronicle previously reported on the giant Canadian flag that was a hallmark of the Husky brand, but has not been flying in Osoyoos for the past 3-4 years. When asked about the flag Nicholson said that “while the flag was a Husky marketing initiative, Otter Co-op is reviewing long term branding options for our 25 Otter Co-op branded sites.”
Otter Co-op owned over 40 different food stores, gas bars, and liquor stores in BC before the purchase, including 27 Angry Otter Liquor stores.
This recent purchase adds 25 fuel locations. In addition to the two Husky locations in Osoyoos, Otter Co-op also acquired two locations in Kelowna, three in Penticton, and one in Summerland.
Other locations were purchased in Chilliwack, Princeton, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Savona, Kamloops, Winfield, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Ashcroft, Rock Creek, and Garibaldi Highlands
This smaller acquisition of 25 locations was a part of Otter Co-op’s parent company, Federation Co-operative’s larger purchase of 181 Husky outlets all across Western Canada. Co-op’s press release after the purchase noted 23 different Co-ops will receive new gas station sites through this deal. The new acquisitions include gas bars, on-site car washes and convenience stores.
